Hawaii jobless rate hits 10-year low, legislation sought for pension spiking, Honolulu rail board accepts oversight, changes coming to public records and Sunshine Law, Coast Guard cutter leaving Hawaii Island, campaign on for Maui mayor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ige visits Women’s Community Correctional Center hydroponics project, courtesy photo

Hawaii’s jobless rate fell to a 10-year low of 2.6 percent last month.The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Thursday the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point from July.The rate was last this low in April 2007. Associated Press.

Jobless rate at its lowest in 10 years. Star-Advertiser.

Pension Spiking Costs Taxpayers Millions — Now The Push Is On To Stop It. Honolulu City Councilman Joey Manahan urges state to change how it sets retirement payouts to prevent overtime abuse. Civil Beat.

Changes are coming to Hawaii’s records and open meeting laws, affecting how people can find out about public meetings as well as how much they’ll pay for public records. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: HA) has appointed Abhi Dhar, the previous chief information officer of Walgreens, to its board of directors. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Rail Board: What Do You Do With A $2.4 Billion Bailout? A board member expressed concern about new oversight rules, but rail managers say those are “not much of an issue.” Civil Beat.

An environmental consulting firm has found soot and dust containing potentially hazardous byproducts of the deadly and destructive Marco Polo high-rise fire in condo units and common areas, the homeowners association told owners this week in a memo. Star-Advertiser.

Residents of the Marco Polo condominium on Kapi’olani Boulevard are now eligible for low-interest loans following a devastating fire two months ago. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is starting on Monday a daily digital news program, anchored by veteran journalists Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji. The one-minute newscast will feature headlines from the Star-Advertiser and run on the Digital Billboard Network, a network of screens in more than 70 stores across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Constant Flooding in Mapunapuna Prompts State To Cut Lease Payments. Businesses that rent from DLNR in Mapunapuna can ask for rent reductions when their leases come up for renewal. Civil Beat.

For years, residents have wanted safety improvements for years on this stretch of Leahi Avenue between Monsarrat Avenue and Noela Street, just mauka of Kapiolani Park. But there's one major problem. No one knows who actually owns this stretch of roadway. Hawaii News Now.

The debate over what to do about a fallen seawall on Oahu's North Shore is causing tension in a Sunset Beach neighborhood. Hawaii News Now.

Construction of a four-story student apartment complex being built on the corner of South King and University Avenue is raising safety concerns for some neighbors of the project. Hawaii News Now.

The future of 133 Kaiulani, the 32-story high-rise condominium hotel that was planned to replace the aging King’s Village Shopping Center in Waikiki, is less certain following the filing of a lawsuit in Honolulu 1st Circuit Court on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Coast Guard cutter Kiska is scheduled to pull out of Hilo Harbor for good Saturday en route to its new home in Guam, leaving Hawaii island with only two Coast Guard personnel and prompting concern over how open-water searches and rescues there will be conducted. Star-Advertiser.

A federal after-school program that has been on the chopping block is now almost certain to stay in the 2018-19 school year. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program has been in limbo since March when President Donald Trump proposed to cut it in his 2018 fiscal budget. Tribune-Herald.

A website is about to go live for bird lovers seeking the best spots from Hilo to Kona to see the diversity of the Big Island’s feathered friends. Tribune-Herald.

Six NASA-backed space psychology research subjects are set to emerge Sunday after eight months of isolation together in a Mars-like habitat on a remote Hawaii Volcano. Associated Press.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa suggested the Maui County Department of Liquor Control return to “common-sense rules” Wednesday after his office was inundated by complaints from the community over the past year. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member Don Guzman announced his candidacy for mayor Thursday evening, packing in an enthusiastic crowd of more than 700 supporters at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Maui News.

Some West Maui residents believe they have a solution to the nagging issue of traffic jams on Honoapiilani Highway, and it doesn’t have to do with the Lahaina bypass. Maui News.

Kauai

The county is shutting down parking on Black Pot Beach until further notice because of sand erosion, starting today. Garden Island.

Severe erosion issues have forced Kauai County officials to close off a portion of a popular Hanalei beach park to any vehicular traffic, a county spokesperson says. Hawaii News Now.

Students at Kauai Community College can count on new support for academic issues. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents elected Norma Doctor Sparks of Kauai to replace outgoing regent David Iha. Garden Island.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday. It’s the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Day, and worldwide people will be joining together to pull trash from beaches and catalogue it into a database. Garden Island.

Meet the monk seals. Scientist outlines misconceptions about endangered species. Garden Island.

Happy in Hawaii, officer in Navy corruption scandal sentenced, layoffs at Honolulu newspaper, media sues over police commission secrecy, police stun the wrong man, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Children dive in Hawaii © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii has been named one of the happiest states in the United States, according to a new report by the personal-finance website WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

The state's tax revenues are up 8.9 percent for the first two months of fiscal year 2018, according to the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s Pacific Command took another blow to its reputation Monday when a former deputy chief of staff for U.S. Special Operations in Honolulu was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a Navy corruption and bribery scandal. Civil Beat.

A retired Navy officer who later became a high-ranking civilian defense employee at Camp Smith told a federal judge Monday it was “hubris, selfishness and a sense of entitlement” that led him to take part in a massive Navy corruption scandal centered around Singaporean-based defense contractor Leonard Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to open bank accounts after the state reached a deal with a Colorado-based credit union, according to one of the local dispensaries. Pacific Business News.

Invasive seaweeds have taken a stronghold on Hawaii reefs over the last half of the 20th century, contributing to a decline in the health and productivity of once-thriving marine ecosystems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The Star-Advertiser and Civil Beat are taking the Honolulu Police Commission to court in an effort to make public any proceedings involving requests by officers for attorney’s fees. Star-Advertiser.

Two media outlets have filed a legal challenge to the Honolulu Police Commission’s long-standing practice of conducting closed-door hearings for officers seeking taxpayer-funded attorneys. Civil Beat.

How A Police Officer’s Complaints About HPD Corruption Went Viral. Denny Santiago says he’s worried about being ostracized for speaking out about the Kealoha scandal to the Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu Publications plans a new round of job cuts — the second in the past year — at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, raising worries that the smaller newsroom won’t be able to sustain the quality of the newspaper’s journalism. Civil Beat.

Oahu hunters are criticizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources over an aerial eradication program meant to protect native watersheds. Hawaii News Now.

New city parks rule to crackdown on vendors who hide behind free speech permits. KITV.

Nearly two months have passed since the fatal Marco Polo high-rise fire, which caused more than $100 million in damage, yet the cause remains a mystery to the public. Star-Advertiser.

Just since mid-August, newly hired off-duty Honolulu police officers have kept at least 900 illegal hikers from trespassing onto one of Oahu’s most popular outlaw trails: Kaneohe’s Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven. Star-Advertiser.

Over the past month alone, Honolulu police prevented 630 people from illegally accessing Haiku Stairs - or Stairway to Heaven. KITV.

Lawsuit filed over school lockdown drill that brought students to tears in 2015. KHON2.

A local nonprofit that helps at-risk teens and young adults received approval last week to use a state-owned waterfront storage building for up to 35 years following a split decision by a board. Star-Advertiser.

The state agriculture and health departments and University of Hawaii are coordinating three public informational meetings on rat lungworm disease on Oahu this month. Star-Advertiser.

Sarento’s at the top of the Ilikai will serve its last customers Sept. 30, after which the 25-year-old restaurant will close. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County police officers realized they arrested the wrong person after shooting him with a stun gun and assaulting him, a federal lawsuit alleges. Associated Press.

Enrollment at Big Island private schools was about on par in the 2016-17 academic year compared to the previous school year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Service has been restored to all school bus routes on Maui, but more drivers are needed to increase frequency to normal levels. Star-Advertiser.

Maui police issued 1,600 traffic citations, including 55 DUI arrests during the 20-day Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign that ran from Aug. 16 to Sept. 4. Maui Now.

A community meeting is planned to discuss transportation issues as they relate to the update of the West Maui Community Plan on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina. Maui Now.

Bridge being replaced. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community Cat Project opposes changes to the small boat harbor rules that would stop trap-neuter-release activities in those areas. Garden Island.

USS Arizona Memorial employee took gifts from tour company seeking tickets, 5-8 tropical cyclones predicted, state sues car makers on airbags, Maui rousts homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy National Park Service

A National Park Service employee at the USS Arizona Memorial accepted gifts from tour operators in violation of ethics regulations, U.S. Department of Interior investigators said Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators: USS Arizona Memorial Employee Took Improper Gifts. Tour operators gave the worker a jacket and golf course green fees, the U.S. Department of Interior found. Civil Beat.

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The Central Pacific Hurricane Center today predicted five to eight tropical cyclones for the 2017 hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

After two busy hurricane seasons, brace yourselves for an encore: Forecasters are expecting another above-average year for tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center released its outlook for the 2017 Central Pacific Hurricane Season, which begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. KHON2.

Climate conditions point to a near to above-normal hurricane season in the Central Pacific basin this year, forecasters announced today. Big Island Video News.

On the 25th anniversary of the season that brought devastating Hurricane Iniki to the islands, National Weather Service forecasters are warning of another possible busy hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

A developing El Nino could result in a slightly busier than normal hurricane season this year, forecasters said today. West Hawaii Today.

For 2017, the outlook calls for a 40% chance of an above-normal season, a 40% chance of a near-normal season, and a 20% chance of a below-normal season, with 5 to 8 tropical cyclones expected to affect the Central Pacific. Maui Now.

Another cyclone season is winding up, and forecasters are predicting more storms than last year. Garden Island.

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Scientists studying sea level rise at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa need your help. Impacts of some of our highest tides of the year are predicted to be seen this week. And the general public is being summoned to document those impacts along the thousand or more miles of coastline across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than a dozen settled claims against the state of Hawaii will be paid under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The claims total $17.9 million, an increase of almost $7 million from a similar claims bill last year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against three major automobile manufacturers for selling cars with dangerous air bags. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is suing auto manufacturers Ford, Nissan and Toyota over air bags that can spew shrapnel when they deploy. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection filed a lawsuit against automakers Toyota, Nissan and Ford for unlawful practices in connection with the marketing and sales of vehicles with Takata airbags to Hawaii consumers. Pacific Business News.

UH Regents want to ensure coaches' salaries don’t go out of bounds. Star-Advertiser.

Maui and Big Island beaches make Dr. Beach's top 10 list. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell released his strategy to increase affordable housing on Oahu on Wednesday, packed with new regulations and incentives for developers. Hawaii News Now.

A City Council committee deferred a bill Wednesday that would place tighter restrictions on private sponsorships of parks and other city facilities after the Outdoor Circle raised concerns that the measure does not go far enough to prevent sign clutter and preserve Oahu’s natural beauty. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Sierra Club is pressuring state officials to require massive underground fuel storage tanks operated by the Navy be upgraded faster to protect a critical source of drinking water for Oahu residents. Star-Advertiser.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board passed a motion recently asking the city to revise its feral chicken removal program to focus on trapping roosters. Civil Beat.

The Board of Water Supply wanted feedback on the future of the Haiku Stairs -- and it got it. Nearly 700 suggestions poured in, about two-thirds of them just before Tuesday's close of the public comment period. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Wednesday declared little red fire ants eradicated from a Mililani Mauka neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green will become the first medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii to have a “soft opening” in June, but customers won’t be able to buy products that elicit a high. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii technology startup will receive a federal grant of more than $1 million to research and develop a low-cost data acquisition system. Pacific Business News.

HDOT warns Honolulu airport travelers of limited parking during Memorial Day weekend. KHON2.

A king tide appeared to reign Wednesday along sections of Oahu’s south shore. Star-Advertiser.

Lifeguards and Hotels along Oahu's tourism hot spot are preparing for impacts from an incoming 'king tide' and south swell. Hawaii News Now.

One of the casualties of the King Tides was Hilton’s Friday night fireworks show. KITV.

A street in Mapunapuna is already flooded as businesses prepare for effects from a king tide. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Power’s future taking shape: BioEnergy Hawaii’s waste-to-energy plans clearer. West Hawaii Today.

Hu Honua Bioenergy reached a settlement in its federal antitrust lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Light Co. and its parent companies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries, over a terminated power purchase agreement. Tribune-Herald.

An election challenge pending since 2014 will have to wait a bit longer before it’s resolved, now that a three-member panel charged with hearing it has eroded to a single member. West Hawaii Today.

The National Science Foundation is sponsoring an ecological observatory that will connect research sites throughout the United States for the next three decades, with one proposed for the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. Tribune-Herald.

Beach-goers and oceanfront residents should keep an eye out over the holiday weekend for tides that could rise more than foot higher than normal. Hawaii County Civil Defense spokeswoman Kanani Aton said Wednesday no county park or beach closures are planned, though that could change if warranted. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Police and park rangers cleared out the homeless encampment Tuesday at Baldwin Beach Park that they said had become one of the largest on island. Maui News.

Maui Grown Therapies is aiming to open as early as July, selling lotions, tinctures, oils, capsules and concentrates at its first dispensary in the Maui Lani Village Center, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin, the parent company of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. that shut down in December, continues to negotiate with prospective buyers of the Puunene Mill. Maui News.

Two school bus companies — one new to the island — will be transporting public school students in Maui’s largest complexes beginning next school year. Maui News.

The Maui News reporters and photographers captured five awards — three of them first-place honors — in the 32nd Hawaii Publishers Association Pa’i Awards that recognizes works of Hawaii’s newspapers and publications. Maui News.

Kauai

The United States Postal Service hasn’t yet scheduled another meeting to talk with the public about closing and relocating the Rice Street post office. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. recently attended the first Japan-Hawaii Economic Summit on the Big Island along with other Hawaii and Japanese leaders. Garden Island.

The Kapahi Bridge is scheduled to reopen this afternoon. Garden Island.

Prepare for ‘King Tides’. Predicted high tides for Kauai. Garden Island.

New Honolulu rail impact fee proposed for schools, 3 media opinions on Kenoi trial, gay-bashing in Puna, Kauai inmates see violent porn, oxybenzone ban promoted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off the sunscreen at Kona beach © 2016 All Hawaii News

A nonbinding resolution asking the Legislature to ban oxybenzone in sunscreens is heading to the state Capitol, following a unanimous vote Wednesday by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines-Disney partnership first of its kind. Pacific Business News.

The Battle of Midway was a major turning point in World War II’s Pacific theater. But the remote atoll where thousands died is now a delicate sanctuary for millions of seabirds, and a new battle is pitting preservation of its vaunted military history against the protection of its wildlife. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Department of Education wants to start levying what it calls its only taxing power to generate funding for new schools in urban Honolulu, where officials anticipate population spikes will require several new campuses along the city’s rail line. Star-Advertiser.

The rail has triggered a new fee proposal by the Hawaii State Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Department of Education wants to establish a School Impact District along the Honolulu Area Rapid Transit (HART) route. KITV.

Anti-Caldwell Super PAC May Have Broken Campaign Laws. Save Our City spent nearly $200,000 on anti-Caldwell ads, but it hasn’t been telling voters where the money came from. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu city Councilman Rod Tam says voters should move past his 2011 conviction for stealing city funds and violating campaign spending laws as he fights for the open Senate seat representing downtown Honolulu, Nuuanu, Iwilei and Liliha. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $1 million settlement of a lawsuit by the family of a Honolulu woman who died after she was struck by a city refuse truck in Kalihi in February 2014. Star-Advertiser.

The second-highest-ranking member of the Honolulu Police Department is leaving her post. KHON2.

The state is trying to make it safer for people to bike and jog along Nimitz Highway. KHON2.

Questions about the latest proposed condominium tower at Ward Village in Kakaako were raised during an initial public hearing Wednesday on the project called ‘A‘ali‘i. Star-Advertiser

Mark Platte, news director at Hawaii News Now, will resign at the end of this year, and Scott Humber, assistant news director, will take over the top newsroom post Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mother Looks In Vain For Answers In Son’s Day Care Death. Cynthia King tried to move on after the loss of her baby two years ago. But then she came across inconsistencies she couldn’t ignore. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

An openly gay Puna father whose home and car were spray-painted with an anti-gay slur this past weekend said he thinks the vandalism is related to the hostility he alleges his two sons have faced at a Pahoa charter school. Tribune-Herald.

The Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing continued Wednesday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel Crown Room in Hilo with navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan and astronomer Robert McLaren appearing as witnesses for the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Famed voyaging canoe captain and Hawaiian navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan testified Wednesday in favor of building the Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea, arguing it would be “the highest level of desecration” to take any action that limits opportunities for future generations of Hawaii youth. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics is scheduled to hear a long-pending complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi next week following his acquittal on criminal charges for alleged misuse of a county-issued credit card. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: AG swung big, and missed. West Hawaii Today.

Opinion: In Kenoi Case, Don’t Confuse ‘Not Guilty’ With ‘Innocent’ The Hawaii County mayor was repeatedly warned about his misuse of a government credit card. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Kenoi leaves courtroom, his future uncertain. Star-Advertiser.
 
Maui

Maui County Councilmember Elle Cochran today announced she has introduced a proposal to prioritize the use of accessory dwelling units, sometimes called ʻohana units, for long-term tenants. Maui Now.

Upcountry Maui County Council candidate Yuki Lei Kashiwa Sugimura outdistanced not only her opponent, Napua Greig-Nakasone, but also every other council candidate in raising and spending campaign funds this election cycle, according to reports filed for Aug. 14 to Oct. 24 with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Maui News.

In a closely watched council race this election cycle, incumbent and Maui County Council Chairman Mike White will defend his Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat against challenger and first-time candidate Trinette Furtado on Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County officials say they need more time to decide on two proposals that would extend the county’s ban on plastic bags to include reusable ones and do away with food containers. Associated Press.

Robert Olson, founder of California-based R.D. Olson Development, which has done several projects in Hawaii, has purchased property within the resort town of Kapalua on the island of Maui for $8.65 million, Pacific Business News has learned.

Kauai

A state prison warden admitted in federal court Wednesday that he showed sexually violent films to inmates as part of a therapy program he designed, but insisted they were not pornographic. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Community Correctional Center's warden admitted in federal court Wednesday that he showed female inmates sexually-violent movies and used terms like "whore" and other derogatory words when talking to women prisoners. Hawaii News Now.

A jail warden on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is testifying about showing violent sexual films to inmates as part of a unique therapy program he created. Associated Press.

Citing bad timing, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted down Wednesday a resolution that would give them the ability to ask questions during public testimony. Garden Island.

Protecting Earth’s oceans is paramount to survival on Kauai and two local organizations are providing an opportunity for residents to have a say in preserving their place. Garden Island.

Hanauma Bay finances questioned, 'Wonder blunder' plea change coming, Star-Advertiser lays off 15 newsroom staff, contested case parties visit Thirty Meter Telescope site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hanuma Bay © 2016 All Hawaii News

The nonprofit Friends of Hanauma Bay says the city continues to “intentionally and persistently” misuse money collected at the site to pay for operations at other East Honolulu facilities despite court mandates requiring the money be used at the nature preserve only. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and city officials are under fire from a nonprofit organization for “the continuing misuses of admission fees paid by visitors to Hanauma Bay.” Civil Beat.

A man accused of scamming the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 for a Stevie Wonder concert that never happened is scheduled to change his plea. Associated Press.

Pacific Fleet officials investigated an active-duty naval reservist from San Diego who failed to stand and salute during the playing of the national anthem on Sept. 19 at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is introducing a new virtual reality tour experience using 360-degree live action footage that instantly drops the viewer into Hawaii from anywhere around the world. Hawaii News Now.

The number of Hawaii public school students taking Advanced Placement exams continued to climb this year along with the number of students scoring well on the college preparatory tests, according to results released this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

WalletHub has struck again, and Hawaii’s union for teachers is calling for change. The finance and credit website ranks Hawaii 51st in the nation when it comes to best and worst states for teachers (the analysis includes the District of Columbia). Civil Beat.

Only 215 Hawaii Inmates Were Tested For Valley Fever In Arizona. About 1,400 Hawaii prisoners are incarcerated in Arizona, but only a fraction have been tested for a disease common in the Southwest. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a rule that creates a pathway to federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. The process began two years ago, and included thousands of pieces of testimony from listening sessions across the state and on the mainland. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Democrats and Republicans gathered Monday around the state to watch the first Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton presidential debate, but it’s unclear whether anyone heard anything new that would move a vote from one candidate to the other. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutors from eight countries and 13 states and the District of Columbia are convening this week in Waikiki to discuss solutions to sex trafficking. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is laying off 15 newsroom employees. Star-Advertiser.

A community group has filed a complaint with the Hawaii Office of Environmental Quality Control seeking to suspend an environmental review process for building a replacement facility for the crumbling Oahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Fire Department says some of its computers may have been infected with malcious software. KHON2.

The Howard Hughes Corp. plans to develop a new 42-story, 751-unit mixed-use condominium high-rise tower in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako next to its 466-unit Aeo mixed-use tower that’s currently under construction, the Texas-based developer told Pacific Business News on Monday.

Several Hawaii residents are suing the property owners of a North Shore restaurant for allegedly violating permitting law and polluting Haleiwa by using an improper septic system.  Civil Beat.

An Oahu restaurant owner is accused of knowingly dumping sewage and putting the public in danger. The lawsuit, which is filed by Hawaiian Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, also blames the city and state for not stopping the contamination. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Parties in the contested case for the Thirty Meter Telescope toured the summit of Mauna Kea on Monday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Environmental groups team up, draft letter to get word out about coral-safe sunscreen options ahead of Ironman. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian immersion students still can ‘opt-out’ of tests in English. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Bus will expand its Kula Villager Route No. 39 in response to Upcountry community requests for more service, Maui County officials said Friday. Maui News.

Japanese-American soldiers may have taken off the uniform when they left the front lines of World War II and returned to Maui, but they never stopped serving. Maui News.

Kauai

With less than two months until the General Election, Kauai candidates can be seen along the island’s main roads, waving and smiling at passing cars. Garden Island

The Kauai Workforce Development Board is accepting public comment on the Local Area Plan for Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act. Garden Island.

Ban against swimming with dolphins proposed, state has record $1B surplus, lawsuits filed as more hepatitis cases discovered, judge orders TRO in Maui hospital benefits case, Honolulu mulls outside audit of Ethics Commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Spinner dolphin in Hawaii, Creative Commons

Federal regulators are proposing to ban swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, a move that could imperil one of the Aloha State’s most popular tourist activities and the industry that has sprung up around it. The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins — the playful nocturnal species that humans in Hawaii routinely frolic with — are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out. Associated Press.

Federal officials proposed a new rule Tuesday that would prohibit approaching Hawaiian spinner dolphins within 50 yards in designated waters between Maui, Lanai and Kahoolawe where they are found throughout the day, a release says. Civil Beat.

The state was holding a record-setting $1 billion general treasury cash surplus when it closed the books on last fiscal year, an extraordinary sum that likely will alter the course of contract negotiations as the state and counties begin a new round of bargaining with Hawaii’s public worker unions. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Behind The Democrats’ Failed Push To Close The Primary. The party sued to keep non-Democrats from voting in its primary races, but federal judges are having none of it. Civil Beat.

A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant, who served inflight food and beverages to passengers, was confirmed to have hepatitis A, the state Health Department said in a news release this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

A second lawsuit in as many weeks has been filed against the restaurant chain Genki Sushi and two distributors of tainted scallops that have caused Hawaii’s hepatitis A outbreak. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu law firm has filed a class action as a result of the hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

At least two of the 200-plus hepatitis A victims in Hawaii are so gravely ill that they are on the waiting list for a liver transplant, according to their attorney. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines is still in negotiations with pilots who are threatening to strike. Garden Island.

Oahu

The city may spend as much as $100,000 auditing the processes of the Honolulu Ethics Commission. KHON2.

The state Department of Health confirmed another case of Hepatitis A in a cafeteria worker at Kipapa Elementary school on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu Publications has pulled its buyout offer for union employees of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a move that likely means the newsroom’s planned downsizing will be achieved solely through involuntary job cuts. Civil Beat.

A new cannabis testing laboratory is opening in downtown Honolulu. Steep Hill Hawaii will be a full-service quality-assurance laboratory for medical marijuana with testing equipment that can handle up to 500 test samples per month. Pacific Business News.

The once kitschy marketplace lined with carts full of costume jewelry, faux lei and made-in-China trinkets is a stark contrast to the glitzy, $500 million shopping center opening Thursday in the heart of Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu-based seafood processor is being put on notice by the FDA for "unsanitary conditions." According to a warning letter to Tropic Fish Hawaii, LLC, an FDA inspector found cuts of raw ahi tuna, mahi mahi and skipjack tuna on the company's warehouse concrete floor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The public became the planners Tuesday evening, as more than 75 people pushed buttons to define what they want to see in Hawaii Island’s future. West Hawaii Today.

BioEnergy Hawaii LLC, a Kailua-Kona-based developer of waste-treatment and alternative-energy systems, plans to start construction on its $50 million resource-recovery and energy-conversion facility on the Big Island by the fourth quarter of next year. Pacific Business News.

A handful of residents living in emergency housing on the HOPE Services campus in the Kona Old Industrial Area are trying to clean up their group’s larger image one area at a time. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo obstetrician/gynecologist is fighting a state Department of Human Services finding that he was overpaid more than $200,000 for services to Medicaid patients. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An Oahu Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday to bar state officials from implementing a new law that would provide severance pay and retirement bonuses to state workers whose jobs are being privatized. The Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System filed a lawsuit Aug. 9 to block the new law, which would affect about 1,500 Maui County hospital workers. Star-Advertiser.

A judge has granted the state pension system’s request for a temporary restraining order to stall the implementation of a new law that offers special retirement benefits to certain state hospital workers. Civil Beat.

Pukalani resident Kathleen Phillips was brought to tears when the state Legislature in the last session passed the CARE Act, designed to help unpaid caregivers receive medical instruction and other help before patients are discharged from a medical facility. Maui News.

Almost 35 years after he started working as a baggage handler for Hawaiian Airlines, Maui's Marvin Moniz was named the state Department of Transportation's Manager of the Year Friday for his leadership in a district that includes the state's second busiest airport. Maui News.

Kauai

Those who live and work in Kapaa say the traffic on the eastside has gotten out of hand. Garden Island.

Swimming with spinner dolphins already constitutes animal harassment under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but the National Marine Fisheries Service is pushing for further regulation. Tour companies on Kauai, however, aren’t concerned with the potential rules because they say they’re already following the practices recommended. Garden Island.

A third Kauai resident has been infected with hepatitis A, but the source of the infection is unclear, according to Hawaii Department of Health. Garden Island.

Molokai

An army of volunteers, nonprofit groups and state and federal agencies mobilized this summer to remove 16 tons of marine debris from a 22-mile stretch of Molokai’s north shore. Star-Advertiser.

Lucky 7 awards. Where All Hawaii News brags about its awards and asks for your help

2015 awards from Society of Professional Journalism

Lucky 7.

That's how many awards All Hawaii News has won from the Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii chapter since this blog's inception in 2008.

Last week's Excellence in Journalism awards gave us two more.

Top awards for solo news blog. Smaller finalist awards for best overall news website in Hawaii, right alongside HuffPost Hawaii. All Hawaii News will never be more than a finalist in this category as long as our friends at Civil Beat keep doing their good work. Don't forget to send them some loving too.

Awards are wonderful. They tell me I'm on the right track, providing your daily recap of government and political news. I rely on news outlets throughout the state for the top news that is curated starting at 5 a.m. weekdays. No webscraping or automatic processes can handle the job that needs to be done by hand. The posts are usually supplemented with my own photography, from as many islands as I can visit given my limited time and budget.

But unfortunately, awards don't pay the bills. I'm using the cut-rate Blogger platform, but there are still expenses.

All Hawaii News is a labor of love. I've been doing this day in and day out for almost eight years now. Advertising is kept to a minimum. And, so far, I've managed to stave off the dreaded popup ads. No guarantees though.

Contributions from loyal followers help pay to keep All Hawaii News online. A donation no matter how modest is seen as a vote of confidence in my efforts.

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Marijuana dispensaries not likely this year, state ignores inmate deaths in Mainland prison, Zuckerberg wall draws Kauai neighbors' ire, no-kill shelters touted on Big Island and Kauai, SPJ honors state media, Ige visits neighbor islands, feral animals to be removed from Haleakala National Park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medial marijuana permit sign, Keaukaha, Hawaii © 2016 All Hawaii News

It does not appear that legal sales of medical marijuana will begin this year, although the state is allowing the first eight dispensaries to start operations in as early as three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Department on Friday released the scores for the 66 applications for eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses, which were awarded in late April. Civil Beat.

Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary license application scores for the eight selected applicants. Star-Advertiser.

Actor Woody Harrelson fared worse than Hawaii video game pioneer and Blue Planet Foundation founder Henk Rogers in their rejected applications for the eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses that were granted by the state. Pacific Business News.

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Starting Wednesday, 26 nations with 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will be practicing war in and around the Hawaiian Islands as they engage in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Garden Island.

The state has never sought or obtained damages against Corrections Corporation of America  even though a number of inmates have been killed while incarcerated, which attorneys for some of the victims have attributed to a shortage of corrections staff, and female prisoners have accused guards of sexual abuse. Star-Advertiser.

A Deadly Dust Is Plaguing Hawaii Prisoners In Arizona. Valley fever is widespread in the Southwest, yet Hawaii prison officials haven’t paid much attention to it, despite the recent deaths of at least two prisoners who had the disease. Civil Beat.

Startup hiccup for Hawaii state agency charged with growing startup ecosystem. What happens when a state agency charged with growing Hawaii’s startup industry gets shortchanged. Pacific Business News.

A pair of in-depth studies into the potential threat of chemical munitions dumped at sea have yielded cause for cautious reassurance. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Will Espero announced Friday that he plans to introduce a bill in January to ban oxybenzone, a chemical commonly found in sunscreen that damages coral reefs. Civil Beat.

As the largest international gathering of coral reef experts comes to a close, scientists have sent a letter to Australian officials calling for action to save the world’s reefs, which are being rapidly damaged. Star-Advertiser.

In a study published in the science journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in February, a research team headed by Craig Downs, executive director of the Haerecticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia, reported on a link between oxybenzone, a key ingredient in sunscreen lotions and personal-care products that protect against UV rays, and so-called coral bleaching. Star-Advertiser.

Why You Should Check Your Sunscreen Label Right Now. Scientists say oxybenzone, an active ingredient in many sunscreens and other personal care products, is killing coral reefs. Civil Beat.

It’s not always clear just what research is going on. In some cases, the University of Hawaii and other biolabs have refused to reveal what viruses they’ve imported for research purposes, pointing to national security concerns. Civil Beat.

Column: Civil Beat Named Best Hawaii News Site For The 6th Year In A Row. The Society of Professional Journalists also honored us with the top award of the contest, public service journalism, and in many other categories. Civil Beat.

SPJ award list.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s newsroom was recognized today by RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) with its third National Edward R. Murrow Award in two years. This 2016 award was in the category of Small Market Radio Continuing Coverage for a series of reports on the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope by HPR General Assignment Reporter Molly Solomon. The series previously won in the same category for its region, comprising California, Guam, Hawaiʻi, and Nevada.

The University of Hawaii's new Institute of Hawaiian Language Research and Translation or "IHLRT" is now making 125,000 pages of Hawaiian language newspapers available for research and study. KITV4.

Oahu

Language in the Honolulu City Charter requiring the city to set aside a percentage of annual revenues for a grants-in-aid fund to be doled out to Oahu nonprofits would be abolished under a plan moving through the Charter Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Transportation and homelessness have been major concerns facing Leeward Coast residents, and addressing those issues are some of the top priorities in the Democratic primary for the House District 43 seat. Star-Advertiser.

The Ansaldo Honolulu JV staffing problems that came to light last fall have persisted in recent months — and they’ve continued to worry those who oversee the island’s rail project, according to documents provided by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The HOV lanes in five heavily congested areas will now be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. during weekdays. The change starts Monday, June 27 and extends the routes by 30 minutes. Hawaii News Now.

A huge line snaked around Ala Moana’s Ewa wing Saturday as crowds waited to take part of Shirokiya’s grand reopening. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Kona International Airport should be set to receive international flights by November 1. But the news gets better, Gov. David Ige and his transportation department heads revealed at a town hall meeting at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui on Friday evening. West Hawaii Today.

The subject of the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, as well as the related blockade and mass arrests that occurred exactly one year ago, was discussed when Governor David Ige and his administration came to Pālamanui for a community meeting Friday night. Big Island Video News.

An ancient South Kona fishing village and trail is set to be placed in public hands, thanks to the efforts of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and The Trust For Public Land Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

There were 915 instances in which pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles on the Big Island between 2007 and May 31 this year, according to figures provided by the Hawaii Police Department. Tribune-Herald.

Nathan Winograd, an expert on the no kill movement, was brought to the island for a day-long conference sponsored by Big Island Dog Rescue as that group squares off with the Hawaii Island Humane Society in a bitter legal battle that carried allegations of defamation and conspiracy from both sides. West Hawaii Today.

Last Hawaii Vietnam veteran ID’d with picture after unexpected twist. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County officials are making plans for a lava viewing area in Kalapana should the latest flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent advance over the top of Pulama pali. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Haleakala National Park has outlined plans to remove feral pigs, goats, dogs and axis deer to protect endangered plants and animals, including the endangered uau, in the park's newest addition at Nuu on the mountain's southwestern flank. Maui News.

An $830,000 proposal would remove feral animals such as pigs and goats from Haleakala National Park land. Associated Press.

The vice chairwoman of a special committee that narrowly recommended a change from the current mayor-council form of government to a system that includes a county manager has lodged a Sunshine Law complaint over the filing of a "Minority Report" with the County Council. Maui News.

Kauai

For years, Kilauea resident Gy Hall has enjoyed the view of the ocean and the breeze along Koolau Road. Then, a few weeks ago, a crew started to build a wall which happens to belong to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Garden Island.

‘A win-win-win situation’ Gov. Ige visits Tropic Care facilities, praises ‘terrific’ service. Garden Island.

Kauai is tied with Hawaii Island for having the most high-risk areas for water quality degradation from on-site disposal systems, according to reports from the state’s Department of Health. But the island only has three properties taking advantage of the state’s tax break program for cesspool upgrades, making a very small dent in the county’s estimated 14,000 existing cesspools. Garden Island.

Around 100 people turned out to hear Nathan Winograd’s No-Kill Conference at the Kauai Beach Resort on Sunday, hosted by Big Island Dog Rescue in Kona. Garden Island.

Ed Justus wants to make sure a bill that would allow vending on county-owned property is fully discussed before the Kauai County Council takes a final vote. Garden Island.

One-fourth of legislative seats up for re-election already decided, draft NextEra/Hawaiian Electric sale document circulating at PUC, public school condom ban continues, rail becomes central issue as Djou enters Honolulu mayoral race, 13 vie for Hawaii County mayor, Civil Beat drops paywall, goes nonprofit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County Election Administrator Pat Nakamoto helps last-minute state Senate filer © 2016 All Hawaii News

Sixteen sitting members of the Legislature are effectively re-elected outright as no one filed to run against them by Tuesday’s deadline to enter Hawaii’s state and federal election contests. Those who won simply by filing for office included one Republican and 15 Democrats. Those uncontested seats amount to about one-fourth of the seats in the state Legislature that were available in this year’s elections. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will likely be easily re-elected to Congress this year with no major candidates opting to challenge them as the filing deadline for candidates running for election closed Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Will NextEra Energy be allowed to buy Hawaiian Electric? That decision is in the hands of three people who are circulating a draft decision as we speak, according to the head of the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.

Shelter managers in Hawaii are scrambling to figure out how to keep a roof over the heads of hundreds of homeless people, and similar cuts are being made across the nation this month as the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shifts its grant money to programs that focus on permanent housing. Associated Press.

Transgender students’ options for the use of bathrooms and locker rooms, dress codes and counseling are mapped out in a set of guidelines and policies created by the Hawaii Department of Education for the upcoming school year. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education will begin training principals and school staff over the summer on new guidelines aimed at providing consistent support for transgender students in Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

A Board of Education committee was briefed today on guidelines to support transgender students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Outreach workers and health care providers say many children and teens struggle to find proper mental health care. The state Health Department often ends up sending severely mentally ill children and teens to the mainland for treatment, away from the support of friends and family. Associated Press.

Reflections on the impact of crystal methamphetamine on life in Hawaii have begun appearing in local theater and literature. Civil Beat.

Oahu

With former Congressman Charles Djou entering the mayor's race, the future of rail is again at the forefront of a mayoral election. Hawaii News Now.

Djou Jumps Into Mayor’s Race; Aiona Opts Not To Run At All. Many Hawaii legislators will be unopposed, especially the most influential ones. But some lawmakers face tough contests. Civil Beat.

Charles Djou stepped up to file for mayor because of what he sees as mismanagement of rail-- a project not on time, and way over budget. KITV4.

Tuesday was the last day for candidates in Hawaii to file nomination papers for the primary election. Among those who formalized their campaigns: former Congressman and Honolulu City Councilmember Charles Djou. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday it is seeking more renewable-energy projects to generate power for Oahu by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is looking for developers to build new renewable energy projects on Oahu as part of its effort to get the state closer to its 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2045, the Honolulu-based utility said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

It was a packed house at the Lanikai Community Center, Tuesday night as city officials, HPD and residents met to discuss the ongoing traffic and parking issues in the area. Hawaii News Now.

The Board of Water Supply said the swing on top of the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, was removed by about 12:30 p.m. The board, which owns the land, hired a contractor, The Nakoa Companies, for the job at a cost of $23,000. Associated Press.

The city is pursuing a court order to clear a Pensacola Street property littered with trash and derelict vehicles that building and fire officials say pose health and safety hazards. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Honolulu Charter Commission commission is poised to vote on two proposed amendments to the city charter described as enhancing public participation by changing and eliminating neighborhood boards and commissions. But that bit of political doublespeak conceals the reality that the proposals would dismantle important structures providing opportunities for active participation in city government. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat is transitioning to a nonprofit entity, drops subscription paywall and vows to continue news coverage.

Hawaii

Candidate deadline passes: The popularity of the mayor's office has left business and civic groups scrambling to decide how to cram as many major candidates as possible into the limited time and limited space onstage during planned candidate forums. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is hiring a University of Hawaii at Manoa professor to model dispersion of hydrogen sulfide from gas releases at Puna Geothermal Venture. The $362,719 study will provide a “comprehensive dispersion and plume modeling program” aimed at improving risk assessments from venting at the power plant. Tribune-Herald.

A Special Permit to allow the establishment and operation of a “Hawaiian Sanctuary” retreat center for health and well-being was approved by the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday, June 2. Big Island Video News.

Fewer than half of Big Island teens used condoms the last time they had sex, one survey shows, but a policy that bans the distribution of prophylactics in Hawaii’s public schools isn’t going away just yet. The state Board of Education voted Tuesday to keep the condom prohibition intact, withdrawing a previous motion to overturn it. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple has sold a 304-acre planned workforce housing project in West Maui for $15 million to an undisclosed buyer, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pacific Business News.

A boatload of decision makers visited waters offshore of Maui on Friday to see firsthand how land-based pollutants and unsustainable fishing practices are killing coral reefs. Maui Now.

For single-family homes, the median sales price countywide was $620,000, down 6.7 percent from $665,000 in April but still up 2.1 percent from $607,098 a year earlier. Maui News.

Maui resident Kaulana Mossman and Molokai resident Kamaka Purdy have been named to the five-member board of a nonprofit that plans to address affordable housing on Hawaiian homelands. Maui News.

Kauai

Sen. Ron Kouchi is running for re-election as president of the state Senate because he wants to make sure Kauai will be recognized in the national political arena. Garden Island.

Rats suspected of eating endangered endemic Hawaiian honey creeper ‘akikiki eggs. Garden Island.